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Could someone explain what these "nippers" were used for on classic CIE locomotives.

  • 18-04-2008 12:23am
    #1
    Run_to_da_hills
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,009 ✭✭✭✭


    I used to notice these giant "clothes pegs" or "nippers" fitted on cab of some of the 201's, 121's and various other classic locamotives. I could never figure what use they had. They were removed in later years, (Arrow points to them in picture) Dose anyone know what these were used for?


Comments

  • #2
    Ham'nd'egger
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,025 ✭✭✭Ham'nd'egger


    Run_to_da_hills wrote: »
    I used to notice these giant "clothes pegs" or "nippers" fitted on cab of some of the 201's, 121's and various other classic locamotives. I could never figure what use they had. They were removed in later years, (Arrow points to them in picture)

    They are catchers for grabbing ETS signal staffs from special hooks en route. They allowed trains to get the staffs at speed and were especially useful at isolated signal cabins en route.


  • #3
    Run_to_da_hills
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,009 ✭✭✭✭Run_to_da_hills


    Hamndegger wrote: »
    They are catchers for grabbing ETS signal staffs from special hooks en route. They allowed trains to get the staffs at speed and were especially useful at isolated signal cabins en route.
    Sounds like something from the steam age.


  • #4
    Ham'nd'egger
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,025 ✭✭✭Ham'nd'egger


    Run_to_da_hills wrote: »
    Sounds like something from the steam age.

    Aye, they were. It basically was a case of have them fitted or slow trains down to collect the staff by hand so they sped things up somewhat. At stations, they weren't really needed as trains slowed down and as such the hand over was easier.


  • #5
    Run_to_da_hills
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,009 ✭✭✭✭Run_to_da_hills


    Not very clever, The pick up looks about the exact height as the window level on the carriages, what if it missed, In those days you could lean out the window. :eek:


  • #6
    Ham'nd'egger
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,025 ✭✭✭Ham'nd'egger


    Run_to_da_hills wrote: »
    Not very clever, The pick up looks about the exact height as the window level on the carriages, what if it missed, In those days you could lean out the window. :eek:

    They were clever and worked well for years with little problems. The idea of it being there was so a driver can reach out and grab it from it's bracket with ease without slowing the train down. Similarly, some signal boxes were aligned to be about the same height as a train cab to make the handing over easier. With the elimination of older signaling, staff swapping is very rare these times.


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